Embedded engineers may be familiar with the concept of adding connectivity to a design and, in some ways, this describes what has become known as the Internet of Things. However, the real value of the IoT isn’t simply in connecting disparate devices to the web.
Taking an embedded device online can doubtlessly add value, but if that’s all is achieved the value added would only be in proportion to the cost of adding that connectivity. The IoT can offer much more than this. In order to achieve its full potential, the embedded industry needs to embrace cloud-based services, because in doing so OEMs will be able to add a disproportionate level of value to an embedded device.
Devices that form part of the IoT will have a cloud-based presence that mimics their real-world instantiation; they will ‘exist’ in two places at the same time. This will require more than just adding IP-based connectivity, it will demand a new approach to design and, with it, a different way of looking at embedded devices. By adopting a cloud-centric view of the embedded sector, OEMs will be better placed to fully embrace the IoT and all its benefits.
Source:Witekio
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